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Yankees release Luis Cruz

Cruz was designated for assignment Friday. He had hit .145/.190/.179 in 173 at-bats. Cruz hasn't appeared in a game since late July. He has been on the disabled list with a tweaked knee.

Yankees designate Luis Cruz for assignment

by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com

(8/16/2013)The Yankees have designated Luis Cruz for assisgnment, MLB.com reports. Cruz hit .145/.190/.179 this season between the Yankees and the Dodgers with one home run in 173 at-bats.

Yankees place Luis Cruz on disabled list

by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com

(7/24/2013)The Yankees have placed third baseman Luis Cruz on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee sprain, ESPN New York reports. It's unclear how long Cruz will be out, but he hit .182 with a .424 OPs in 16 games and is no guarantee to return to the Yankees when healthy.

Luis Cruz headed to DL

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(7/23/2013)Yankees third baseman Luis Cruz said Tuesday that the New York medical staff told him he damaged his MCL, the Newark Star-Ledger reports. Cruz was wearing a bulky brace following the win over the Rangers. He expects to go on the disabled list.

Luis Cruz dealing with soreness

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(7/23/2013)Yankees third baseman Luis Cruz, who was not in the lineup Tuesday in Texas, landed hard after diving to make a play Monday, the Journal News reports.

Cruz is unlikely to be available for Tuesday's game, according to manager Joe Girardi.

"He's sore today," Girardi said. "We’ll continue to evaluate him day by day and see what we think, but he’s a little sore today."

Cruz, the everyday 3B with Alex Rodriguez and Kevin Youkilis injured, has hit .145 over 173 at-bats with a homer and 11 RBI on the year. He's hitting .182 with five RBI since joining the Yankees over 55 at-bats.

Luis Cruz becomes Yankees' everyday third baseman

by Jack Moore | CBSSports.com

(7/8/2013)Infielder Luis Cruz will become the Yankees' everyday third baseman for now, ESPN New York reports. This arrangement is only likely to last for the next two weeks or so as Alex Rodriguez is on rehab, but Cruz will get full-time at-bats over the likes of Alberto Gonzalez until then.

In 50 games between the Yankees and Dodgers, Cruz is hitting only .140/.181/.184.

The 29-year-old Cruz last played with the Dodgers this season over 45 games. He hit just .127 with six RBI and 20 strikeouts.

Luis Cruz opts for free agency

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(7/2/2013)Dodgers infielder Luis Cruz declined his assignment to Triple-A Albuquerque and became a free agent Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times. Cruz was designated for assignment Friday after hitting .127 with a .344 OPS in 118 at-bats this season.

Dodgers designated Luis Cruz for assignment

One season after surprisingly putting up a quality .297/.322/.431 line in 283 at-bats, Cruz has hit .127/.175/.169 with one home run and six RBI in 118 at-bats.

Luis Cruz back in action

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(5/28/2013)Dodgers infielder Luis Cruz made his first appearance since May 17 on Monday night against the Angels.

Cruz had a productive night as he finished 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored in an 8-7 victory. He is hitting .105 with two RBI in 76 at-bats.

Luis Cruz gets back on the field

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(5/27/2013)Dodgers infielder Luis Cruz was in the starting lineup Monday against the Angels, his first appearance since May 17 due to a sore elbow.

Cruz has just seven hits in 72 at-bats on the season. Cruz has started just four games since the start of May.

Luis Cruz out with sore elbow

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(5/19/2013)Dodgers infielder Luis Cruz was unavailable Sunday against the Braves because of a sore throwing elbow, according to MLB.com. Cruz, who lost his starting third-base job earlier in the season, is batting .096 through 28 games.

Luis Cruz in danger of being demoted

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(5/11/2013)Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz could be sent down to Triple-A Albuquerque once Mark Ellis and Jerry Hairston are both healthy enough to return from the disabled list, according to TrueBlueLA.com.

Cruz has earned just two starts in May. He is hitting .091( 1 for 11) over that stretch. He is hitting .090 with two RBI in his first 67 at-bats.

Luis Cruz working on mechanics

by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com

(4/23/2013)Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz was out of the lineup for the second straight game Tuesday against the Mets. He entered the contest batting a lowly .087 with one RBI in 46 at-bats. The 29-year-old hit .297 with a .431 slugging percentage for Los Angeles last season.

"He's done it once, he can do it again," Mattingly said. "I don't think they're pitching him differently. I think he's just lost confidence. There's stuff going on with his lower half -- it's off before the swing is coming -- that's why you're seeing so many pop-ups."

Mattingly said Cruz is working on his mechanical flaw so he can "get back in the mix."

"Without being harsh," Mattingly said, "it's a production business. You've got to be doing something."

"Luis is a concern," Mattingly said. "He doesn’t have the track record of Matt (Kemp). The fly balls tell me a story, and it’s not a good one. Luis hasn’t swung the bat for us like he did last year to this point."

Cruz is batting .111 (4 for 36) through 11 games, but he's encouraged after going 1 for 3 with a sac bunt Monday against the Padres.

"I was seeing the ball better," Cruz said. "That’s huge. I just can’t wait until tomorrow to get some more at-bats."

Luis Cruz playing way out of lineup?

by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com

(4/9/2013)Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz earned the third base job this spring for manager Don Mattingly. But the Dodgers were certainly concerned about handing the starting job to a veteran who mostly bounced around the minor leagues for 11 seasons, reports the Los Angeles Times.

Perhaps the Dodgers' trepidation was correct as Cruz has struggled to begin the season after a second half last year when he hit .298 with six homers and 40 RBI in 283 at-bats.

The 29-year-old has gone 0 for 17 to begin the year with an RBI and four strikeouts. Mattingly sat Cruz in favor of Juan Uribe the last two games, including Tuesday. Mattingly said it's because of the matchup and Cruz will be back in the lineup shortly.

Luis Cruz takes a day off after slow start

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(4/7/2013)Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz, who has not had a hit in his first five games, received a day off Sunday against the Pirates.

Manager Don Mattingly hopes that a day off will get Cruz on track. Mattingly said that Curz has been "jumpy" at the plate. The 29-year-old is 0 for 17 with a walk and an RBI in five games.

"It's early still," Cruz said to MLB.com. "We still have a lot of games. I think I'm going to be fine. I feel good, strong, I just need to get my timing down."

Luis Cruz enduring slow start

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(4/3/2013)It has not been a banner start to the 2013 season for Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz, who was hitless for a second straight game Tuesday against the Giants. Cruz has gone 0 for 3 in each of the first two games and has been on base only once thanks to a walk in the opener.

Cruz hit .286 (16 for 56) with four homers, five doubles and 11 RBI in 19 spring games.

Dodgers change plan on Luis Cruz

by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com

(3/31/2013)Following Justin Sellers' late charge to a roster spot, and presumably the starting job at short in Hanley Ramirez's absence, the Dodgers plan to keep Luis Cruz at third base for the start of the season, MLB.com reports. Cruz was slated to serve as the starting shortstop, but manager Don Mattingly has become smitten with Sellers' strong range on the left side of the infield.

The 29-year-old Cruz, who is entering his second season with Los Angeles, produced a .286 average with four homers during the spring.

Dodgers to use Luis Cruz at short

by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com

(3/22/2013)Multiple outlets, including CBSSports.com's Scott Miller, reported Friday that the Dodgers intend to use Luis Cruz at shortstop when the season opens. The shortstop position is open after Hanley Ramirez was forced to undergo surgery on his right thumb Friday, an injury that will likely keep him out until at least May.

If the Dodgers were unsure of whether Cruz was deserving of the spot, he made sure to ease their fears Friday in Cactus League action against the Reds. Cruz swatted a pair of home runs in the game, while going 2 for 3 overall with four RBI in a 6-5 loss.

Cruz appeared in 78 games for the Dodgers last season, putting up a .297/.322/.431 triple-slash line with six home runs and 40 RBI. Cruz appeared in 24 games at shortstop. Cruz is batting .308 with four home runs in spring training.

Luis Cruz earns first crack at short

by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com

(3/22/2013)With Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez expected to miss the next two months with a thumb injury, the team confirmed plans to use Luis Cruz at the position for the start of the season, CBSSports.com Senior Baseball Columnist Scott Miller reports.

Cruz played 23 games at short last season before the team acquired Ramirez from Miami.

"I’m ready to play anywhere they want me to," Cruz said to the Los Angeles Times on Thursday. Fellow shortstop Dee Gordon is still expected to begin the season at Triple-A in order to gain more seasoning, according to Miller.

Luis Cruz will start at short with Hanley Ramirez out

by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com

(3/21/2013)Luis Cruz will open the season as the Dodgers starting shortstop with Hanley Ramirez out.

The 29-year-old Cruz primarily played third base with the club last season but has received 58 starts at short in his career.

Cruz hit .297/.322/.431 in 296 plate appearances last season. Juan Uribe is expected to be the team’s starting third baseman with Cruz playing short.

Cruz homers in return

by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com

(2/28/2013)Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz returned to the lineup Thursday afternoon against the Angels after missing his last game with the stomach flu. Cruz made his presence felt in a big way as he took Jerome Williams deep in the first inning for a two-run home run. He finished 1 for 3 with a run scored and two RBI in a 10-8 victory.

Cruz out with stomach flu

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2/26/2013)Dodgers third baseman Luis Cruz was scratched from Tuesday's spring lineup against the Giants because of the stomach flu.

Cruz confident in abilities

by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com

(2/21/2013)The Los Angeles Times reports Luis Cruz heads into spring training games as the lead candidate to emerge as the Dodgers' starting third baseman, but he will receive competition from Juan Uribe, who has disappointed in his first few years with the Dodgers. Cruz, however, is confident he will be able to stave off his competition. "I don't have any doubt I can do it again," Cruz said. "I don't pay attention to negative people. I'm here to do my work and show that I can do it. I know I can play here."